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Wed 11 December
Festival Hub
A series of creative interventions exploring the concept of ‘power’ will take over Wales Millennium Centre throughout the festival weekend.
These thought-provoking pop-ups encompass a rich medley of artistic practice including live performance, installation, visual art, projection, film, spoken word, audio drama and written prose – all devised, created and performed by young people and youth arts workers of Sparc Valleys Kids, one of our partners based in the Valleys.
Free performances
Roaring 20s
Friday 5 November: 2.15pm in the Glanfa foyer
This Peaky Blinders-inspired dance is performed by Nikita Gill and Coralanne Evans, two talented young girls at the brink of their careers.
Playing with how females from the Valleys are expected to behave, there’s a 'kiss or kill' tension in the air as this five-minute dance mixes street and contemporary styles.
Disruption
Friday 5 November, all day in the exhibition space
Rhydyfelin Youth Theatre present an immersive 360 digital film experience that will take you on an exploration of different feelings and sensations that young people experience around disruption.
From the calmness of being surrounded by nature to the anxiety of fears, social media and the pressure of everyday life to the heavy numbness of disconnection and feeling that everything is out of reach.
The Storm
Saturday 6 November, 3pm and 6pm in the Glanfa foyer (BSL by Sami Dunn)
Penygraig Youth Theatre present a 30 minute theatre performance about love, loyalty and belonging. When Davey Jones is abandoned as a baby and discovered by unruly pirates, they nearly throw him overboard - that is until they learn to love him and become his family.
Not knowing who his birth parents are and growing up believing he's a pirate, he's devastated when he discovers the truth. Betrayed and angry, he runs away and tries to rebuild his life on another ship. One year later and bracing a big storm, Davey’s past catches up with him.
Leanne
Saturday 6 November, 5pm in the Glanfa foyer (BSL by Sami Dunn)
Emerging artist Hannah Lad performs a hilarious and gut-punching one woman act as ‘Leanne’- a young girl waiting for a job interview.
Interacting with the audience, and sometimes asking for their help, she shares moments of her life with us and takes this opportunity to show us what she wishes she had said to her ex-boss, an old crush and her over-bearing Mam.
Voices of the Rhondda
Sunday 7 November, 2 - 8pm in the Weston Studio (BSL by Sami Dunn)
This interactive art installation with theatre and role play elements, exhibits the incredible power of community in the Rhondda over the decades.
From street parties to protests, from miners' strikes to beach trips to Porthcawl, a company of young people from Penyrenglyn will invite you to join them and come and experience it for yourself.
Pencil Breakers
Look out for the eye-catching, hand-painted posters in Glanfa.
Each poster contains a QR code which takes you to a web page where you can read or listen to audio versions of four original pieces of writing from from queer, disabled, activist voices. Read and listen to the stories in our blog.
Unlikely Heroes: The Curse of the Doughnut
Daily in our exhibition space. Age guidance: 14+
Flight Wings present a 30-minute audio drama installation playfully exploring identity, gender and sexuality.
The costumes of our cheeky characters will tell you the story of Narky’s birthday where everything went a little strange and supernatural, forcing our unlikely heroes to grab their guns and doughnuts to fight off the evils of this world.
No More
A musical / spoken word response to power and the need for change. Watch a video taster of the song that was written using the powerful words of young people from the Valleys and the Bay. The entire song will be performed live at Wales Millennium Centre in 2022.
The project is led by artist Bethan Marlow. Originally from North Wales, Bethan has been joining weekly sessions throughout the year with local youth groups and collaborating with the youth arts workers and young people to develop professional pieces for the festival.
Key to the success of the collaboration has been Bethan's deep respect for the way Sparc and Valleys Kids work and her desire to put this work centre stage.
Read more about Bethan's reflections on the two-year journey.
"The raw, brave and honest energy of these interventions will grab the audience’s attention, their original, intriguing, and thought-provoking performances will keep them entertained. Their important, urgent and authentic voices will linger in the memory long after the Festival has ended."
Lead Artist, Bethan Marlow
Powerful Interventions is free across the weekend of Festival of Voice, so make time to experience this thrilling series of new work and support the next generation.
A high number of the young people involved are disabled, care experienced and from the LGBTQ+ community; projects like this enable all types of people to be creative and find their voice.
The project was commissioned by Together Stronger for Festival of Voice. Together Stronger is Wales Millennium Centre’s partnership with Valleys Kids to build a creative future for young people in the Valleys.